Sealing machine



Dec. 25,A 1928.

J. H. HUXLEY ET AL SALING MACHI NE Filed Oct. 5, 1928 Patented Dee. 25, 19228.

` NNrren srAr JOSEPH n. HUXLEY, or CHELSEA, AND wrLLrAivr A. srEriiENs, or SHEPHERDS LONDON, ENGLAND.

means rAreNT OFFICE.

BUSH,l

SEALNG` MACHXNE.

Application filed October 3, 195.28, Serial No.

This invention relates to sealing machines and `has particular reference to a machine for supplying, automatically vacuumizing containers, and then sealing them in rapid succession. f

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of machine assuring enhausting or vacuumizing the container before the cap is sealed thereom and a further object is to construct machine for varied operati-on as regards vacir umizing period which will always operate so that sealing is effected only after a proper vacuumizing obtains.

be. apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in the appended claims.

Inlorder that the invention may be clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show,y a preferred vconstruction by way of example and in` which like reference numerals desig nate the same or similar parts.

Fig. l shows in sectional elevation a ma chine inwhich a hand lever causes a platform to rise'to a vacuum chest and control the pressures therein for vacuumizing and sealing a container'.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line Il-II of Fig. l showing the construction by which .the means of 'operatingthe platform is utilized to control the operation of the diaphragm in the vacuuinizing chest.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation7 partly diai grammatic7 showing the connections between the valve chambers, and atmosphere and the reduced pressure by which the container is vacuumized, hereafter referred to; yand Fig. 4 is a plan view of said connecn tions. y

Referring first to Fig. l and considering the construction to be utilized in applying a rclosure of the type having` curled tongues by which it is attached to a container, the apparatus includes a moving head comprising a presser member l and a coaxial cup like member 2. The presser member l is formed with an axial rod ln about which is a spring 3 located between the. presser member l and a sleeve 2a extending from the cup like member 2. The rod 1fL is slotted as indicated at 54, through which passes a pin Various other objects and advant'ages'will suesse, ami in Great Britain May 5, naar.'

carried by the sleeve 2a so that lost motion can occur as required.

rthe moving head is by the agencyy of a nut member et and interposed washer 5 clamped to a diaphragm D which forms a false head to the vacuum chest C, the diaphragm being secured to the chest C by being clamped between the flared upper part 6 ofr the chest (which permits a relatively large diaphragm to be used) and' a domed or dished head 7 thereof, thereby forming a chamber above the diaphragm separated from the chest by the diaphragm, the head including a bearing 8 for the sleeveQEL above referred to.

ln the construction shown the conduit 28, Fig. 2', conveys atmospheric air to the .cham-v ber vabove the `diaphragm D and suction is container B and the presser member l is then arrested. The higher differences of pressure overcome the opposition of the spring 3 to the deflection of the diaphragm and thelatter andthe cup 2 move suddenly and relatively to the presser member l so that the cup is caused` to pass the securing curls A1. integral with the flange ofk the closure and bend them under the shoulder` to secure the closureto .the container in known manner. Y

According to the invention the time of exhaustion in the chest and of admission of atmospheric air above the diaphragm are independently regulated so thaty thev Suction on the chest C extracts from the `container Bl any air therein and sterilizes the contents and then while this condition isinaintained atmospheric air is admitted through yconduit 28 causing a fall of the diaphragm, the cap .being secured to they container in two stages, lirst by the settling effect of member 1 and then by sealingy pressure accompanied by inturning oftl the curls A1 by member 2.

The container being sealed? suction is applied above the diaphragm and cut off from the chest, )atmospheric air being` then admitted to the chest and the diaphragm then regains its normal position. The container B can then be removed and another' replaced in position.

A platform l? is utilized to supply containers to the chest. f

Now, in order 'to control the connection oit' the chamber above the diaphragm and also the chest C to vacuum. and also to atmospheric air, means are provided Whereby after the platform P has been raised the pressures above and beloiv the diaphragm are varied. To this end the platform l) is attached to a spindle 16 slidably and resiliently supported by spring 26 in rack member 19 provided with teeth 56 With which meshes a pinion 57 .vhich in turn is rotated on the operation ot the lever 59 through the agency ot the gear segment, 58.

As the lever is pulledl doivn the member is raised up through the 4 slide 17 carried on t-he arm 18 extendink' from the hollow column 13.

On the rack member 19 is a collar carrying` adjustable tappets 19a and 19h, see Fig. 2, and the bearing member 127 is provided With Wings or extensions 30, 31. in a plane at right angles to the arm 13. which extensions are bored to provide cylinders in which piston valves 24 and 29 operate. These pistons are spring-controlled as indicated in Fig. 2 and operable by the tappets 19L and 19b as the rack 19 rises. rlhecylinders of the valves are each tapped transversely to provide ports by which the cylinders are connected to the-chestand to the chamber above the diaphragm respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2 the cylinder of the piston 9.9 is tapped `for reception of duplex conduits 27 and 28 emanating;- trom he chamber above the diaphragm. and the cylinder is also tapped at right angles as indicated at 2W? Fig. 3. for connection to pipe 61 as diagrammatically indicated in F ig. 3 by line 27h. l

In the position shown. the valve 29' ncovers the connection between 28 and-27a., hence the chamber above the diaphragm is subjected to the vacuum existing in column 13. Parallel to the tapping termineY port 27a, the cylinder is bored at 23 to provide a connection to atmosphere, thereby when valve 29 is raised conduit 2S and port 28 communicate and atmospheric air enters the chamber above the diaphragm l). By adjusting tappet 19h the movements oi the valve 29 are regulated and consequently the deflection ot the diaphragm precisely timed.` l

The chest C and the cylinder ot the valve 24: are connected by the duplex conduits 25 and N, of which the conduit 25 conununicates With atn'iospheric air through the port 25 (Fig. bored in the cylinder similarly as the port 23 aforesaid.

rlhe conduit N connects the chest through a port N in the cylinder ot the valve Qt to vacuum existing in column 13 v` the port N being` connected to the pipe Gl einanating- 'trom the vacuum` column 13. as diagrammatically shown by line it 2 in Fi. 3.

By adjustinzg` tappet 19a the operation of the valve is regulated thereby timing` precisely the commencement ot the period during which the container is subjected to the vacuum in column 13.

As the tappets 19a and 19b independent7 one ot the other, a precise timing of the period of exhaustion may be effected Without interfering in the operation of the diaphragm to effect sealingot' a container.

In the construction shown the hollow standard 13 functions as a reservoir 'tor air at reduced pressure, and has a connection at GO to a pump which exhausts the column, the pressure therein being communicated into the chest and above the diav phragm D by the pipe 61 in manner aforesaid.

lt is .Well known that the reduction of pressure effected by pumps varies accordinsr to conditions. particularly at starting up and When the pumps are Warm? and further that the sterilizing of different types of goods requires varying;` periods ot treatment in vacuo to effect sterilization. The indepencent regulation of the valves 24, 29,V by adjusting tappets 19, 19h, aiiords such method oi regulation.

The valve Q9. in its normal position shown in Fig. 2. uncovers the connection between 28 and 27 and thus subjects the chamber above the diaphragm to thel vacuum existing` in column 13. The general operation of the machine is as tollows:-v p

0n the handle being' pulled down, the platform l) rises as previously explained, until the platform l? closes the chest C. Immediately thereafter the valve Q4 is engaged by the adjustable tappet 19a carried by the rack member 19. Qhis euses displacement of the valve uncovering the conduit N thereby opening; communication With a port N and the pipe 51 to vacuum, so that the container in the chest subjected to reduced pressure.

Following this movement and vvi'th tho continued rise ot the rack member 19 at the expense of compressing the spring;` 26. the piston 29 is operated by the tappet 19" so as to uncover the communication between he conduit 23 and atmosphere through the port 28 thereby admitting' air at atmospheric pressure above the diaphragim and lll() This effects in sequence the vacuumizing of the container and thesealing of the container in the reduced atmosphere.v p

lf, now, the arm 59 is returned to the normal (vertical) position shown in Fig. 1 t-he first movementcauses afall of the rack and an extension of the spring 26, the fall of the rack being sufficient to permit the fall of the valve 29 thereby again connecting the chamber above the chest D to the vacuum column 13 by the conduit?, port 27a and connection 61.

The continued fall of the rack member 19 permits the fall of the piston valve 24 and connects the chest C to atmospheric air through the conduit 25 and port 27a. This immediately releasesV the platform which then follows the continued downward movement of the rack member 19.

ReferrinOP now to the construction and support of the chest it will be noted that the chest is provided with a cup 12 extending from the bearing portion S of the chest head which cup is carried in an upper arm 13a extending from the column 13 above the lower arm 18 which supports the platform P and raclr 19.

`The cup 12 is threaded for the reception of a screw cap 53 which seats on a packing 51a at the bottom ofthe cup 12, thereby forming an air seal over the extension 2"l of the moving head, where the said extension 2 passes through the bearing 6.

That `we claim is 1. In a vacuum sealing machine comprising a sealing chest and a chamber separated therefrom by a flexible member carrying a presser member, separate valves for controlling the-pressures in the chamber and in the chest, means for supplying containers to the chest, Aa. gear means operating said supply means, and adjustable actuating means for said valves carried by said gear means.

2. In combination in a vacuum sealing machine, sealing chest, a. chamber, a flex"- ible member carrying a presser member and separating the chest and chamber, a platform, a gear means for reciprocating` the platform to and from the chest, adjustable means for regulating the reduction of pressure in the chest operated by the reciprocating gear means after the platform has risen to the chest, and separate adjustable means actuated from said gear means for regulating the pressure in the chamber to cause a sudden actuation of the presser member.

In a vacuumd sealing machine comprisving a sealing chest, a chamber separated therefrom by a flexible member carrying a presser member, a platform, and a gear means for reciprocating the platform to and from the chest, the combination of a valve i reciprocated.

regulating the alternate admission of 'atmospheric air and air at reduced pressure to the chamber, a separate valve similarly controlling the pressure withiny the chest, an adjustable tappet for each of the valves, and means carried by the said gear means for operating the tappetsk while the platform is 4.111. vacuum sealing machine comprising a sealingchest and a chamber separated therefrom by a? flexible member carrying a presser member, the combination with duplex connections from the chamber and duplex connections from the chest, one of each duplex connections forming a communication to atmosphere and the other a connection to air at reduced pressure, of-a valve controlling the duplexconnections from the chamber adapted to alternately close one and open the other, a separate and similarly operated valve controlling the duplex connections from the chest, a platform, a gear means for rreciprocating the platform to and from the chest, and adjustable tappets carried by the gear means for operating the valves whereby the presser member is actuated.

' 5. A vacuum sealing machine comprising a hollow column, a sealing chest supported by said column, a chamber on said chest, a flexible diaphragm separating said chamber and chest, an arm extending from said column below said chest, a vertical rack member guided in said. arm, a platform resiliently supported by said rack member, means for raising and lowering the rack member, adjustable tappets on the rack member, two valve cylinders, each having a connection to the column and an opening to atmosphere, valves therefor operable by said tappets, duplex connections between one valve cylinder and the chest, and duplex connections between the other cylinder `and the chamber above the diaphragm, whereby the chest and chamberare each alternately connected to the column and to atmosphere on the operation of the valves by the tappets.

G. In a vacuum sealing machine accord-Y ing to claim 1, the presser member comprising a piston, a. coaxial cup member, a lost motion connection between the piston and cup member, and a 'spring interposed between the piston and cup member.

7. A vacuum sealing machine comprising a hollow column, an arm at the upper part thereof, a sealing chest supported in said upper arm, a chamber on said chest, a flexible diaphragm separating saidk chamber and said chest, a presser-member carried by the diaphragm, a. bearing in the chamber for said presser member, an .air seal over said bearing, an arm extending from the lower part of said column, and below said chest, a vertical rack member guided in said lower arm, a platform resiliently supported by said rack member, means for raising and lowering the rack member, adjustable teppets on the rack member, two valve cylinders, each having a. connection to the column and an opening to atmosphere, valves therefor operable by said tappets, duplex connections between one Valve cylinder and the Chest, and duplex connections between the other cylinder and the chamber above the daphragm, whereby the chest and chamber are 10 each alternately Connected to the column and to the atmosphere on the operation of the valves by the tappets.

In testimony whereof We afx our signaures.

JOSEPH H. HUXLEY. WILLIAM A. s'rEPHENs 

